Lady Liberty to get a facelift

The Statue of Liberty in New York will close for a year for a $27.25 million series of refurbishments, the United States’ secretary of the interior, Ken Salazar, has confirmed, starting in late October. The project will be, he said, “a major step in bringing a 19th-century icon into the 21st century.” The improvements will upgrade the interior to make it safer and more accessible, and allow for increased visitor access, including to the pedestal and the museum. Code-compliant stairways will be installed, mechanical, electric and fire suppression systems updated, the elevators replaced and restrooms rehabilitated. Liberty Island will stay open for the duration of the project.An average of 240 visitors climb to the crown of the monument every day. The statue attracted around 3.2 million visitors during 2007.CBS